Student interest groups from A-Z
Posted on September 9, 2020 by Carol McPhail
Interest groups can be a valuable tool for medical students to gain insight on different medical specialties, as well as network with physicians in various fields and students who have similar interests. There are more than 30 groups to choose from at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine.
“Joining an interest group is a great opportunity to learn more about a particular specialty or focused aspect of our profession,” said T.J. Hundley, M.D., associate dean for medical education. “Students have the opportunity to receive career and professional development to help them grow as learners. It is also a great chance to meet faculty who may serve as mentors for a student.”
Here are the available interest groups, along with their contacts, at the USA College of Medicine:
American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA): Dedicated to creating a community of women who support each other’s success. Contact Megan Hood (M3) at mkh1721@jagmail.southalabama.edu.
Anesthesiology Interest Group (AIG): Promotes education, communication, advocacy, research and networking among students and physicians. Contact Michael Heisler (M4) at meh1722@jagmail.southalabama.edu.
American Medical Association – Medical Student Section (AMA-MSS): Dedicated to driving medicine toward a more equitable future, removing obstacles that interfere with patient care and confronting the nation’s greatest public health crises.
Bioethics and Humanities Interest Group: Dedicated to exploring the intersection of the medical sciences with non-scientific disciplines including legal, bioethical, philosophical, religious, literary, anthropological perspectives and more. Contact Jordan Smith (M4) at jnm1721@jagmail.southalabama.edu.
Christian Medical Ministry of South Alabama (CMMSA): Interdenominational Christian ministry serving medical and allied health students at the University of South Alabama with a wide network of students, residents and physicians involved in Bible studies, small group studies, medical mission trips, local health screenings, and local and national conferences. For more information, visit www.cmmsa.org.
Donor to Diner: Aids and advocates for hungry college students, and maintains the JagPantry, a food pantry on the campus of the University of South Alabama. For more information, visit the Facebook page Donor to Diner at USA. For more information, email usajagpantry@gmail.com.
Emergency Medicine Interest Group (EMIG): Fosters interest in the specialty of emergency medicine. Sign up for EMIG using this Google spreadsheet.
Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG): To sign up for FMIG, use this Google spreadsheet..
Internal Medicine Interest Group (IMIG): Focuses on exploring the field of internal medicine and all of its subspecialties.
Medical Spanish Interest Group (MSIG): Consists of medical students interested in learning, practicing or teaching other students medical Spanish and providing cultural competency. For more information, contact Camila Ochoa (M2) at mo1422@jagmail.southalabama.edu. To sign up, add your name to this MSIG Email List.
MedPride and Allies: Dedicated to ensuring a safe and friendly academic environment for LGBTQ+ students, residents and faculty in the medical community at the University of South Alabama. For more information, contact Tyler King (M4) at tmk1621@jagmail.southalabama.edu.
Military Medicine Interest Group (MMIG): Serves to promote awareness of medical issues specific to the military and military healthcare as well as provide opportunities to serve military and veteran organizations in our community. Contact Jesse Stutzman (M2) at jls1921@jagmail.southalabama.edu.
Muslims in Medicine (MIM): Provides an opportunity for fellowship, spiritual growth and academic growth among the Muslim student, resident, fellow and faculty population within the USA College of Medicine, and seeks to educate and engage all medical students on topics pertinent to the Islamic faith in the healthcare setting. Contact Dala Eloubeidi (M4) at dme1721@jagmail.southalabama.edu.
Neurosurgery Interest Group (NSIG): Promotes interest in the neurosurgical field among medical students. Contact Priscilla Perez (M3) at pap1521@jagmail.southalabama.edu.
OB/GYN Interest Group (ObGynIG): Provides a support group and community for students interested in a career as an OB/GYN. For more information, contact Macy Vickers (M4) at mjv1721@jagmail.southalabama.edu or Annie Xu (M4) at yx1721@jagmail.southalabama.edu.
Oncology Interest Group (OncIG): Provides medical students an opportunity to explore and learn from professionals in various subspecialties of the field, including medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, and clinical and basic science research. For more information, contact Angela Mosley-Johnson (M4) at asm1721@jagmail.southalabama.edu or Zachary White (M4) at zbw1721@jagmail.southalabama.edu.
Ophthalmology Interest Group (OIG): Focuses on providing medical students with exposure to ophthalmology. For more information, contact Will Edwards (M4) at wse1721@jagmail.southalabama.edu.
Orthopaedic Surgery Interest Group (OSIG): Intended for medical students interested in the field of orthopaedic surgery. For more information, contact Reid McClenny (M4) at grm1721@jagmail.southalabama.edu.
Otolaryngology Interest Group: Promotes the field of otolaryngology among medical students. For more information, contact Dr. Jon Simmons at jdsimmons@health.southalabama.edu.
Pathology Interest Group: Aims to increase medical student exposure to the field of pathology. For more information, contact Dr. Jordan Lowery, resident representative, at jelowery@health.southalabama.edu.
Pediatrics Interest Group (PIG): Facilitates and creates interest in the field of pediatrics. Sign up for PIG using this Google spreadsheet.
Psychiatry Student Interest Group Network (PsychSIGN): International network of medical students interested in psychiatry, from those with a rough interest in the discipline to those already in the residency application and match process. For more information, contact Samantha Lee (M4) at snl1221@jagmail.southalabama.edu.
Public Health Interest Group (PHIG): Explores topics pertaining to the public health discipline, both independently and at its intersection of medicine. For more information, contact Gigi Ward (M4) at gam1722@jagmail.southalabama.edu.
Radiology Interest Group (RIG): Aims to expose medical students to radiology as a specialty, providing opportunities for education, radiologic research, and community / social activities. For more information, contact Allen Mao (M4) at am1722@jagmail.southalabama.edu.
Sacred Heart Society of Medical Students: A Catholic organization open to all medical students. For more information, contact Claire Johnson (M2) at cej1921@jagmail.southalabama.edu.
Student Run Free Clinic (SRFC): A student-led initiative with the purpose of enhancing wellness among underserved populations in Mobile. For more information, email srfc@southalabama.edu.
Student Interest Group in Neurology (SIGN): Promotes awareness of opportunities available in the field of neurology, furthers neurologic knowledge among medical students and provides opportunities for medical students to participate in activities related to the field of neurology. To join, complete the SIGN roster, follow the USA SIGN Facebook group and become a member of the American Academy of Neurology.
Student National Medical Association (SNMA): Creates a supporting environment for current and future underrepresented minority medical students, addresses the needs of underserved communities, and increases the number of clinically excellent, culturally competent physicians. For more information, contact Sydney Brown (M2), president, at snb1922@jagmail.southalabama.edu.
Surgery Interest Group (SIG): Group for students interested in surgery who plan to one day apply for general surgery residency or a surgical subspecialty. For more information, contact Murphy Mostellar (M4) at mmm1229@jagmail.southalabama.edu or Jacob Swords (M4) at jas1723@jagmail.southalabama.edu.
Wilderness Medicine Interest Group (WMIG): Encompasses clinical medicine, preventive medicine, disaster relief and public health. Sign up for WMIG using this Google spreadsheet.
Women in Surgery Interest Group: Supports the diverse group of aspiring and current female surgeons at the USA College of Medicine, and provides students with mentorship opportunities with female faculty, residents and other medical students. For more information, follow @girlsurgeons on Instagram and Twitter.